The intention of Boko Haram terrorists targeting and killing Christians recently has been made known.
At a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information, said the insurgents decided to go after Christians with the intention to trigger a religious war in the country.
Mr Mohammed said his position does not mean that Muslims in the country are not also been attacked by the terrorists.
“They have started targeting Christians and Christian villages for a specific reason, which is to trigger a religious war and throw the nation into chaos,” the minister said.
“Apparently, they have realized how emotive and divisive religion can be, when exploited by unscrupulous persons.
“Lest I am misunderstood, let me repeat: the insurgents, who delude themselves as Muslims whereas they are nothing more than blood-thirsty, rapacious killers who subscribe to no religion, have recently started targeting Christians with a view to sowing the seed of confusion between the two great religions.
“This did not in any way signify that they have stopped attacking Muslims. But they seem to now have a deliberate policy of attacking Christians. Some have misinterpreted this to insinuate a systematic campaign to persecute Christians in Nigeria.
“This is absurd, and very unfair to the men and women who are daily battling the insurgents,” he said pleading with religious leaders not to fall for the antics of the terrorists.
